Summary
The popular-uprising-turned-armed-rebellion in Syria is in its third year, and seems poised to continue, with the government and an array of militias locked in a bloody struggle of attrition. Members of Congress and Administration officials are debating options for responding militarily to President Bashar al Asad’s forces’ reported use of chemical weapons in attacks on rebel-held areas and civilians. After the U.S. intelligence community concluded that Asad’s forces used weapons in limited attacks earlier this year, the Obama Administration had signaled a pending expansion of U.S. civilian and military assistance to the opposition. Earlier in the conflict, U.S. officials and many analysts asserted that President Asad and his supporters would be forced from power, but had difficulty articulating how that outcome would take place within the timeframes they set forth. Recent developments suggest that both the opposition and the Asad regime face considerable challenges in their attempts to assert greater control over Syria. Increasingly, analysts have focused on the potential for the regime and its opponents to carve out strongholds and prolong the fighting. Rapid escalation or swift regime change could deal a decisive blow to actors seeking to advance goals contrary to U.S. interests, but it could also further jeopardize the security of chemical and conventional weapons stockpiles and/or lead to wider regional conflict. Opposition forces are formidable, but regime forces, backed by Hezbollah fighters and Iranian and Russian material support, have initiated…...

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There are Different theories on what triggers social change but the main ones are Evolutionary theory, conflict theory and functionalist theories. The social change theories provide a framework on which the social movement in Syria can be explained.
According to the evolutionary theory society naturally evolves into higher levels with time hence resulting to social change. The public has become aware of its social and economic problems. In its quest to better its living standards grassroots oppositions have become more vocal .This is clearly evident in the social movement of Syria. The social movement hopes to achieve radical reforms which include democracy, improved living conditions both socially and economically.
In line with the evolutionary theory all societies undergo the same stages of change the ultimate results will vary from one society and the other. Syria’s social movement revolution hopes the violence and protest will invoke change .Drawing examples from Libya and Egypt which have undergone similar revolutions and the success of the Democratic Republic of Turkey. Syria hopes to achieve similar or even better results in terms of better social and economic reforms.
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...The Syrian civil war[74] is an ongoing armed conflict in Syria between forces loyal to the Syrian Ba'ath Party government and those seeking to oust it. The conflict began on 15 March 2011, with popular demonstrations that grew nationwide by April 2011. These demonstrations were part of the wider Middle Eastern protest movement known as the Arab Spring. Protesters demanded the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad, whose family has held the presidency in Syria since 1971, as well as the end to over four decades of Ba'ath Party rule.
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Advice to the Minister
Date
NOTE: PLEASE DELETE INSTRUCTIONS AS YOU FILL THIS TEMPLATE OUT
ISSUE:
* Two and half years have now passed and the Syrian civil war is getting further out of control with no clear indication of things getting better anytime soon. If anything the situation in Syria is getting worse by the day. Syrian Civilians are fleeing the country to neighbouring borders such as Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey, in hopes of a better future for their families. Unfortunately thousands of people have already fallen victim to shameless crimes committed by the Syrian government, with no end in sight.
BACKGROUND:
* Syria has seen constant unrest for the better part of almost two and a half years. Close to 100,000 people have been killed and millions of Syrians displaced due to the internal conflict that has now become a full-blown civil war. The killing started when peaceful protests inspired by earlier revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia rose up to challenge the dictatorship running the country; namely President Assad. Government forces started quickly kidnapping, killing, torturing, raping, and mutilating bodies of activists and their families before dumping them on the sides of roads. Then troops simply disregarded any judgement of humility and simply just started opening fire amongst crowds of people. Eventually, civilians started shooting back. Syria’s government has been trying to supress a......

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THIS HOUSE WOULD ARM THE SYRIAN REBELS (from idebate.org)
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Stop the bloodshed! With the death toll rising how can we as humans stand by and allow innocent civilians to be murdered and slaughtered in a war that has nothing to do with them.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the toll since the beginning of the 29-month uprising now stands at 110,371 people, with at least 40,146 civilians killed including nearly 4,000 women and more than 5,800 children. Craggs, Ryan. "Syria Death Toll: More than 110,000 Dead In Conflict, NGO Says." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 01 Sept. 2013. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
How many Syrian......

...The Kurds in Syria, a struggle for self-determination
Thiebald WoudaS2556790IRIO Academic Skills 2Research PaperDrs. H. Sportel27-01-2014Amount of words used: 2378 |
Table of Content
Introduction________________________________________________________3
Chapter 1
Setting up an own state_______________________________________________5
Chapter 2
The Kurds in Syria and their claim for an own state_________________________7
Conclusion________________________________________________________10
Bibliography______________________________________________________11
Introduction
The Kurds have always dreamed of their own state which they call Kurdistan. Kurdistan is located in the Middle-East and is divided over 4 countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. In 1920, the Kurds were close to establishing their own state because the foundation of a Kurdish state was mentioned in the Treaty of Sevres. However, after some discussion of other involving parties, the Treaty of Sevres was replaced in 1923 by the treaty of Lausanne, in which the Kurds were neglected. This excluded the establishment of a Kurdish state. Years of revolt went by and although the Kurds have tried to become independent, an own internationally recognized state was never established. Syria was no exception, the Kurds were suppressed by the Syrian government. For example on 23 august 1962, when as a result of a decision of the government, 120000 Kurds lost their Syrian citizenship.
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A country of fertile plains, high mountains, and deserts, Syria is home to diverse ethnic and religious groups, including Arabs, Greeks, Armenians, Assyrians, Kurds, Circassians, Mandeans and Turks. Religious groups include Sunnis, Christians, Alawites, Druze, Mandeans, Shiites, Salafis and Yazidis. Sunni Arabs make up the largest population group in Syria.
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...your topic and how it first affected you. Explain why it is important to you. Reflect on how or why your background, motivations, needs, or interests sparked you to choose this topic. The best topics are those that are important to and involve you.
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Syria is a country with extensive religious and political history. Throughout time Syria has had many governments before finally being governed by the Baath Party since 1963. The country also has deep roots within Christianity as well as becoming predominately Islamic. Religion is a large part of government being governed by Shai Alawite as of most recent, as well as family being in position to be in the government. Government has shaped the way Syrians live daily life but religion is where they draw their beliefs and customs from. The influence the government has had on the country is evident in the ways Syrians are treated. The authoritarian style governing has led to an uprising of citizens stemming the current civil war within the country. Syria has a history and culture deeply entwined with both religion and government.
Syria’s government has gone through numerous changes throughout history. Syria has been governed by different entities such as the Umayyad Dynasty and Ottoman Empire (1516-1918) as well as French influence under the French Mandate (1923−1946) and finally the Baath Party (1963–present). “The Arab Socialist Resurrection (Baath Party) took control after the Baath Revolution in 1963. ‘The Baath Party was formally founded in April of 1947, and membership was open to all from the Arab Fatherhood’.” (Devlin, 1991). Traditionally Syria was stratified with landowners and merchants having the......

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Syria, once a province of the Ottoman Empire, is a small middle-eastern nation between Lebanon and Turkey. In March 2011, pro-Democracy Arab Spring protestors who were marching to decry the arrest and torture of teen graffiti artists were fired upon by police. After the shootings, many more protestors joined the public displays of defiance (BBC ). After nationwide unrest and a refusal by President Assad to abdicate, the protestors began to arm themselves (Semple).
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...The Growing U.S. Concerns with Iran
Jeremy Bondy
American Military University
DEFM600 B001 Win 12
Dr. Oliver Hedgepeth
February 25, 2012
Table of Contents
Introduction 3
History 4
Assumptions 5
Secrecy of Iran's Nuclear Program 6
Evidence of Nuclear Weapon Development 6
Refusing IAEA Inspections 7
Closing the Straits of Hormuz 8
Iran Aid to Syrian Government 9
Iran's Supporting of Militant Groups 10
Replacing the Iranian Regime 10
Variables Used to Define a Model 11
Conclusion 12
References 13
Introduction
As time goes on Iran is becoming an increasing area of concern and threat to the United States and its allies. Iran has been working for some time at trying to establish itself as a dominant power, especially within the Middle East. This quest for recognition has caused rising national security concerns within the United States and some of its allied countries. Some of the most recent concerns include; Iran's nuclear program, threats of closing of the Straits of Hormuz, the oil sanctions, and Iran's threats towards other oil producing Arab nations. Iran has also been working at strengthening its ties with Syria, the Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shiite groups in Iraq, and ties to groups in Palestine and Afghanistan.
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